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DEDICATION
The researcher dedicates her desertion of work to her family. To my brothers that are always there to protect me. To my sisters that gave me all the things I needed in my daily living. To my uncle and my auntie who provided for me and lastly to my mother who is so supportive and willing to risk everything just for me. The researcher would also like to dedicate her work to her friends who've been my cheerleaders for life.
-Beatrice Lim
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The researcher would like to express her gratitude to several individuals who in one way or another contributed and extended their valuable assistance in the preparation and completion of this study.
First and foremost to Miss Noemi Gigante, the researcher’s adviser and also the one who helped me with my work and for the insights she had shared.
The researcher really appreciated your help. To the researcher’s loving family for supporting her thru thick and thin.
Verified writer
Proficient in: Moral
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“ Have been using her for a while and please believe when I tell you, she never fail. Thanks Writer Lyla you are indeed awesome ”
Supporting every move I take and every decision I make. Also, she would like to thank her family for sharing her their knowledge on how to do this research work. The researcher was so thankful to have a family like you.
The researcher would also like to thank her peer group for the happiness they brought me thru times of hardship when there was no reason to smile. But thanks to them they always brighten up my day To Sister Maria Dominica H. Seguban O.P. whose encouragement, guidance and support from the initial to the final level enabled me to develop an understanding of the subject.
Last but not least, my family and the one above all us, the omnipresent God, for answering my prayers for giving me strength to plod on despite my constitution wanting to give up and throw in the towel, thank you so much Dear Lord.
ABSTRACT
Title: Stealing. Is it moral or Immoral?
Researcher: Beatrice Andrea G. Lim
Year and Section: IV- Blessed Jane of Aza
School: Dominican School
Teacher: Sister Maria Dominica H. Seguban O.P.
Date Completed: November 2014
Stealing is wrong and there won’t be a time that it will be legal. Some people consider it okay because of their situation. Nowadays, a lot of people think that stealing is a way on how to get out from poverty. That’s why the researcher decided to conduct a research about the topic “stealing”. When a person takes something that belongs to somebody else without permission that is stealing. The stolen object can be as small as a piece of candy or as big as a car. It can be taken from someone a person knows or from a stranger.
It can be taken from a store, a kind of stealing called shoplifting, or from someone's home. But either way, it's stealing. People can steal words and ideas, too. For instance, if someone takes your book report and tells the teacher that she — not you — wrote it, that's another form of stealing. Imagine how upset you would be if that happened to you! The fact is that there are many ways to be guilty of stealing. There are many different kinds of stealing. While most people know that stealing is not right, many people still practice various forms of it! Some may not realize their guilt, but others justify it and even admire others who practice it.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
These are the reasons why the researcher decided to do a study regarding to the topic “Stealing”. This study aims to answer the following questions:
1.) What is stealing?
2.) What are the factors that contribute to stealing?
3.) What are the different forms of stealing?
4.) What are the effects of stealing?
5.) How can we prevent stealing?
INTRODUCTION
In the Philippines, stealing is very popular especially on Urban Places like Manila, Makati, Quezon City and many more. Increasingly, however, many are becoming victims of these so called stealing. This research will describe some of the problems involved with the different forms of stealing. For the past few years, they say that our country –Philippines is considered as the Rising Tiger which means we are progressing. But why are there still numerous crimes of stealing? As expected of our progress, stealing in our country should lessen. In this research, I will discuss some reasons why people still commit stealing. Stealing some say is immoral & wrong, but some would say that it was a necessary way of life. Stealing is just plain old wrong, but still that doesn’t stop people from doing it.
They don’t take the time to realize the amount of trouble that they’re getting themselves into. Or maybe they just don’t care, but they really should. Stealing has no excuses, explanations, or anything, because when you get caught that’s it. There are reasons why you shouldn’t do this, good ones, these are the things that people should think about before stealing. First of all what would God say, do you think that he would actually want you doing this. Sure He forgives us for our sins, but do you want that guilt hanging over your shoulders, no, you don’t. The bible says, “Thou shall not steal,” but do you think of that at all. Stealing is taking something that does not belong to you without asking. It is not borrowing, or finding something, or owning something, or having something with permission.
RESEARCH PROPER
Stealing is taking something from someone else. We are commanded by the seventh commandment to respect what belongs to others, to live up to our business agreements, to pay our just debts and to not charge an exorbitant rate of interest when lending to another. We must also use the things we have wisely and treat our things with respect. In addition, this commandment includes that we do not keep others from having what they deserve or borrow things and not returning them. We ask ourselves why someone would take something that doesn't belong to them.
We also ask ourselves how people are able to go on day by day knowing that they have cheated someone or some company of money and profits earned by hard work. Well there is no answer to that question; there are only things that the researcher can assume may be a reason for someone to want to do these things. There are more reasons than anyone could ever come up to explain why someone shoplifts. The researcher are not going to try and name them all just enough to give you an idea.
COMMON REASONS WHY PEOPLE STEAL:
Greed
This one is pretty straight forward. This is the excessive desirous of wealth, profit, etc. This may also be identified as having a strong or great desire for food or drink. People who are greedy are keenly desirous; eager. People feel this greed whenever they want more of something they have. They want to possess more than one needs or deserves. A greedy person desires for everything and these sometimes lead to stealing. There will come a point on other people’s life wherein they become so greedy but don’t have any financial means so what they do is steal to get that thing for free and at the same time being benefited from the thing you stole that came for free.
Hatred
This is wanting the other to be miserable, can also can be revenge driven. The feeling of hatred. The emotion of hate; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action.
Ignorance
People just pick things up without realizing they belong to someone else. This is the state or fact of being ignorant wherein you lack knowledge, education, or awareness. People sometimes don’t notice that they are committing stealing. Example of this is the saying “Finders keepers”. Well it feels good seeing a ball pen on the floor especially when you forgot yours at home and you badly need it for your lecture, quiz, seatwork etc. so without any knowledge of whom the owner of that ball pen you just get it and use it. Well it is still wrong to get things that aren’t yours. In that way you are practicing ignorance. The best thing to do is ask for whom it was and just borrow it afterwards.
Necessity
Something necessary or indispensable: an imperative requirement or need for something. It is an unavoidable need or compulsion to do something. This is a state of being in financial need. This is the reason why some people steal food and clothes when starving or in need. Some people don’t have enough money to sustain their everyday needs that’s the reason why they steal. We can’t blame them, they don’t have any bad intentions they’re just stealing for their needs but even though you turn the world upside down stealing will always be and forever be wrong. Now, that we all know the reason why people steal. It’s now time to know the different ways on how people steal.
DIFFERENT WAYS ON HOW PEOPLE STEAL.
Cheating
Let’s start with Cheating. Cheating includes acts of plagiarism, test copying and the use of unauthorized notes or materials. Such actions have negative effects on students. There are several reasons why students cheat in school and all of them reflect on three factors.
REASONS WHY STUDENTS CHEAT
Students are being pressured by their parents to get good grades.
Students were unprepared.
Students were too lazy to review or to study their lesson.
Lastly, the challenge of trying to get away with it.
Unfortunately, by cheating the student is setting a pattern for life. Instead of accepting the challenge of learning they accept the challenge of not getting caught. Another things is when a student gets caught there are consequences to be followed.
EFFECTS OF CHEATING
When cheating is repeatedly successful it can become a habit. Cheating students learn they can receive credit for minimal work, which has negative effects on their work ethic later in life. Cheating or shortcutting on work in a business-like atmosphere can lead to serious professional problems, while claiming credit for other people's work can lead to accusations of plagiarism, lawsuits or termination. These events may appear exaggerated, but the ethic at work in these scenarios is the same as that in cheating.
Shoplifting
Second is Shoplifting. Shoplifting is the criminal action of stealing goods from a shop while pretending to be a customer. Shoplifters may be classified into two groups. The Professional and Non-Professional shoplifters.
PROFESSIONAL SHOPLIFTERS
Professional Shoplifters are addicts who steal to buy drugs or hardened criminals who steal for resale and profit as a lifestyle. These individuals frequently commit other types of crimes and lack any conscience or guilt. To deal with these shoplifters, the approach here is either a drug treatment program or jail.
NON-PROFESSIONAL SHOPLIFTERS
Non-Professional Shoplifters are the people who make up the majority of shoplifters and who steal for a variety of reasons, mostly related to common life situations and their personal ability (or inability) to cope. They include people who are depressed, frustrated, anxious, influenced by peers, thrill seekers or kleptomaniacs. Non-professional shoplifting is rarely about greed or poverty. It's about individuals struggling with personal conflicts and needs. These individuals know right from wrong, they know there are consequences and they often have the money to pay, but they continue to steal anyway.
EFFECTS OF SHOPLIFTING
The effects of shoplifting are harmful to consumers. Stores will often be forced to increase the price of their merchandise in order to make up for the cost of stolen goods. These increased prices may discourage customers from supporting some businesses which creates even more negative effects of shoplifting.
Because teens are often the perpetrators of shoplifting offenses, teenagers can also suffer the unfavorable effects of shoplifting. Even teens who have no intention of shoplifting may be discriminated because of the suspicion that they may intend to steal goods from a store. The effects of shoplifting may make store owners suspicious of teens and discourage them from coming into stores. The effects of shoplifting also impel store owners to have backpack or bag check in policies, security cameras, security guards or sensory systems, and other special alarms in order to deter shoplifters and catch offenders. Many businesses will prosecute shoplifters to the full extent of the law. The legal effects of shoplifting vary by state and circumstance. The penalties for shoplifting often depend on the value of the merchandise stolen, and any prior history of shoplifting.
Plagiarism
Another way on how people steal is Plagiarism. Plagiarism is an illegal form of copying. It means taking another person's work (without asking) and calling it your own. Plagiarism can be accidental or intentional. Copying an entire essay or story and calling it your own is plagiarism. Copying one sentence word-for-word without "quotations" is also plagiarism. Whether you hand it in to a teacher, or post it in your blog, plagiarism is against the law in most nations.
REASONS WHY PEOPLE PLAGIARIZE
People don’t know how to put it in their own words.
They thought that the internet is a public domain.
They don’t understand the rules of copyright.
They wanted to impress their teacher.
They wanted to get a better mark.
They don’t understand their assignment.
They have small vocabulary.
They don’t have time to work.
Their parents want them to get better marks.
There are two main reasons why plagiarism is taken so seriously in the academic world: Authors and artists work very hard to create original work. They deserve the credit and teachers want to know that students understand their research.
EFFECTS OF PLAGIARISM
Destroy the Student’s Reputation. Plagiarism allegations can cause a student to be suspended or expelled. Destroy a Professional Reputation. A professional business person, politician, or public figure may find that the damage from plagiarism follows them for their entire career. Not only will they be fired or asked to step down from their present position, but they will surely find it difficult to obtain another respectable job. The legal repercussions of plagiarism can be quite serious. Copyright laws are absolute. One cannot use another person’s material without citation and reference.
Identity Theft
Copying requires almost no effort. There are also people who steal and we call them Identity Theft. This happens when someone steals your personal information and uses it without your permission. It’s a serious crime that can wreak your finances, credit history, and reputation — and can take time, money, and patience to resolve.
REASONS WHY PEOPLE STEAL IDENTITIES
Financial, because of the lure of easy money remains the biggest draw. Concealment because of the need to hide criminal involvement plays a powerful role in many identity theft crimes. Life Stresses because of a perceived need for immediate cash drives many identity thieves, as the Justice Department's report suggests.
EFFECTS WHEN YOU STEAL AN IDENTITY
Victims of identity theft can suffer many negative financial effects including, paying higher interest and insurance rates, being denied for loans or lines of credit, and multiple bank fees, to name a few.
Snatch Theft
Another way of stealing is Snatch theft. A criminal act of forcefully stealing from a pedestrian's person while employing rob-and-run tactics. It is typical for two thieves to work together and ride a moped to make theft and escape easier. A person steers the vehicle while another does the act of theft itself.
EFFECTS OF BEING A SNATCH THEFT
A person liable to theft is liable to:
A jail term which may extend to 3 years
A fine
A person convicted to theft with assault or criminal force is liable to: A jail term of not less than 1 year and not more than 7 years.
Shall also be liable to caning.
Piracy
Next is Piracy. The term "piracy" refers to activities that are of a commercial nature, including activities that cause commercial harm. Anyone who obtains material without the permission of the person(s) who own the rights to the material is pirating intellectual material. Piracy of intellectual property is broken down into four different categories. These categories are physical music piracy, counterfeits, bootlegs, and internet piracy.
Physical music piracy is the making or distribution of copies of sound recordings on physical carriers without the permission of the rights owner. Pirate copies are often compilations, such as the "greatest hits" of a specific artist, or a collection of a specific genre, such as dance tracks.
Counterfeits are another type of physical piracy - These are recordings or duplicates made without required permission, which are packaged to resemble the original as closely as possible.
Bootlegs are the unauthorized recordings of live or broadcast performances. They are duplicated and sold - sometimes at a premium price - without the permission of the artist, composer or record company.
And lastly, Internet piracy is commonly used to refer to a variety of unauthorized use of music or other creative content on the internet. This includes illegal software, torrent movie download, mp3 downloads.
REASON WHY PEOPLE COMMIT PIRACY
Here are some things that people whom are involved in pirating says.
It is a common practice.
Torrenting movies and downloading free copies of E-books are just a common way of `seeking entertainment nowadays Authors already have a plenty of money.
J.K. Rowling may not notice a loss in income.
Digital content is too expensive.
I will acknowledge that pricing on eBooks is not ideal, but pricing is a different conversation--you can't just take what you want, when you want, because you disagree with what's being charged. Everyone else is doing it.
There are a lot of examples of mainstream acceptance of pirating
EFFECTS OF PIRATING
If caught in a raid, all your pirated things can be taken away from you. A result of deficit. The illegal replication and distribution of audiovisual materials via illegal camcording cinemas had almost killed the film industry and had a negative impact on the country’s economy in terms of lost revenue and jobs. If caught camcording, you will be put in to jail for a year or it may depend on how big your crime is. Computer shops who uses illegal softwares can be raided provides that only the computer disks and other storage devices can be seized by the raiding team unless those items cannot be readily removed, in which case the computer unit can be taken.
Robbery
Many states define robbery as theft/larceny of property or money through the offender’s use of physical force or fear against a victim. Where a deadly weapon such as a gun is used or the victim suffers injury. Essentially, robbery is theft accomplished by violence or the threat of violence.
REASONS WHY PEOPLE COMMIT ROBBERY
Robberies are fairly common crimes, and there are several causes of robbery which differ from one crime to another. Here are some of the most common causes of robbery. The unemployment problems which motivates people to commit robbery in order to feed oneself or look after one’s family through tough times.
Another category of robbers are those who are just lazy, and are habitual thieves, looking to make quick money without any effort. These people are repeat offenders and they usually drift around committing burglaries and other types of theft as well. Drug addicts are usually potential thieves to support their drug habit if they do not hold down a job or have other ways to earn money in order to pay for their habit. Sometimes crimes are committed by those who have some form of mental deficiency or lack morals etc. Sometimes peer pressure among teens also leads to robberies, with robbers historically being looked up to in society. Another common type of offender is one from the lower economic bracket of society who is just looking to better his or her lifestyle.
EFFECTS OF COMMITING ROBBERY
Robbery is considered a felony. Most states and the federal government classify a crime that's punishable by more than one year in prison as a felony. Some states consider a felony as any crime that's punishable by any prison time.
Usual punishment for robbery conviction is a prison sentence. Sentence length depends on someone's criminal history and case circumstances. A large fine may also be imposed on top of any prison sentence. States usually have increased punishments for aggravated robbery.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The first four commandments really have a lot to say regarding our relationship with God. The remaining commandments tell us more about how we treat one another. Stealing is an incredibly selfish act that does an immense amount of damage to everyone involved. Some people think that stealing is a victimless crime, because it's just things. Yet, stealing not only means taking something you didn't earn, but it also can cause people to feel vulnerable and less safe, even if they weren't physically harmed in the theft. Stealing is not, however, limited to worldly possessions. It can also involve stealing spiritual items. We find ways to rob God of what is His. For instance, if we have successes in our lives, we need to give due credit to God.
He is the one who provides blessings. When we pull people away from God, we are stealing His people. Stealing can come with some hefty penalties. In some countries, if you are found stealing you may lose a body part or be whipped to near death. In some cases, it could mean death. However, in most cases it can mean a criminal record that Stealing can also mean losing friends and family. It is an utter violation of a relationship to steal from someone you know. Even if you aren't stealing from them, how do they know they can trust you if you steal? Relationships are build on a foundation of trust and honesty. Even the appearance that we can't be trusted means relationships can shatter.
And what happens when we take from God what is His? When we don't use the spiritual gifts that God has provided, turn people away from God, and more, we steal from God. We destroy that relationship we have with Him by telling him through our actions that He cannot trust us. Eventually we will face a spiritual judgement for our actions can impact your ability to get a job or even in jail or prison time.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Exorbitant rate:going far beyond what is fair, reasonable, or expected: too high, expensive, etc.
Indispensable:extremely important and necessary.
Anxious:afraid or nervous especially about what may happen.
Kleptomaniacs:these are people who have mental illness in which you have a strong desire to steal things.
Larceny:the act of stealing something.
Deficita problem that causes a decrease in some ability.
Felony:a serious crime.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, due to the hardships which accompany poverty, crime is sometimes a direct result of impoverishment. For example, a family may not be able to purchase groceries because of low income occupations which are not enough for the basic necessities a family requires for survival. Therefore, for the sake of feeding his or her family, a parent may steal food from a grocery store in desperation. However, while some crimes committed as a result of poverty have understandable reasons behind them, people also commit crimes with selfish intentions.
If an individual with an addiction to cigarettes or alcohol is low on money, he or she may resort to holding up a convenient store in order to gain the money he or she "needs" in order to acquire the items that make the person happy. Therefore, crime is definitely linked to poverty. STEALING IS WRONG. WHERE EVER YOU MAY GO STEALING WILL ALWAYS BE WRONG. AS GOD ONCE STATED IN THE TEN COMMANDMENTS “THY SHALL NOT STEAL”. STEALING DOESN’T DEPEND WHAT EVER YOUR SITUATION IS. IT IS UP TO US IF WE COMMIT SIN OR NOT. PEOPLE ALWAYS HAVE A CHOICE. IF YOU’RE IN A BAD SITUATION STEALING IS NOT THE ANSWER. IF WE WANT TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING WE SHOULD WORK HARD FOR IT.
RECOMMENDATIONS
There are several ways you can begin living good and to avoid stealing. Know your heart. What is in your heart matters. If you constantly desire things you don't have and start to think about just taking them, it can lead to actions of stealing.
Learn your gifts. God has provided each of us with spiritual gifts. When we learn about our gifts, we give back to God by using them. By using our gifts, we avoid robbing from God.
Think hard about the consequences. There are consequences on both a worldly and spiritual level. In the world, you can face probation, jail, lack of job security, and more if you are caught stealing. Yet there are consequences that go well beyond this world that we cannot even see yet.
Think of others. When we steal from others we hurt them emotionally. Theft is a huge violation of trust and security, and it does a lot of damage to people that we may no think about. Think about how you would feel if something was stolen from you before you take something you didn't earn.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/learning_problem/stealing.html#
http://www.poverties.org/poverty-and-crime.html
http://blog.nus.edu.sg/threezeroone/2013/03/30/why-pirates-pirate/
http://www.poverties.org/causes-of-poverty.html
http://www.gradesaver.com/the-book-thief/study-guide/summary-part-three
http://christianteens.about.com/od/Ten_Commandments/a/10-Commandments-Bible-Study-No-Stealing.htm
https://bible.org/seriespage/sin-stealing-exodus-2015
http://litreactor.com/columns/top-10-reasons-people-use-to-justify-pirating-digital-content-and-why-theyre-wrong
http://blog.nus.edu.sg/threezeroone/2013/03/30/why-pirates-pirate/
http://www.sitepoint.com/why-people-pirate-software/
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=215768558502385&story_fbid=355851234494116
The Immorality of Stealing. (2016, Sep 11). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/the-immorality-of-stealing-essay
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